Sizer and classifier.



No. 653,568. Patented-July-JO, 1900.

. J. 0. DIMMICK.

SIZER AND C LAS SIFIEB.

(Application filed Jan. 28, 1900.)

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No. 653,568. Patented luly .10, won. y

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(Application filed man; as, 1900.

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, ITED. ST TES I PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH O. DIMMICK, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SIZER AND CLASSIFIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,568, dated July 10, 1900.

Application filed January 23, 1900. Serial No. 2,532. (No model.) i

T on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH O. DIMMIoK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State'of- Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sizers and Classifiers, of which the following is a specification.

- This invention relates to ore-separators in general, and more particularly tothat class of.-

se arators known as washers in which the pulverized ore is classified through the agency of water.

One object of my invention isto produce a device for sizing pulp inwhich the coarser particles of greater specific gravity are classified in compartments, while, the volume of the pulp solution is reduced by passingoff the surplus water in a clear state without loss. of slimes or fine values, thus reducing the; mill-tailings to the smallest possible amount,

containing all the fine values, with just the requisite water for secondary concentration and recovery of such values.

' A further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus in which the separation or sizing'may be quickly and thoroughly effected at a comparatively-small expense.

The invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same is illustrated as embodied in a convenient and practical form, and in whch- Figure 1 is a top plauview of the device; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal central section thereof; Fig. 3, a side elevational view, partly broken away; Fig. 4, a transverse central section, and Fig. 5an end elevational view.

Similar reference characters indicate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Reference-letter 0 indicates a tank into' which the pulp from the stamps or pulverizers is delivered through the trough A. or other suitable conduit. The tank 0 consists of inclined side walls 5, which meet at their lower edges and gradually diverge upwardly, thereby giving the tank a substantially V- shaped cross-section. The ends of the tank are closed by vertical V-shaped walls corresponding totheangle formed by the divergence of the side Walls. The union between the lower edges of the side walls is completed bya triangular beam 17 of a length equal to that of the side walls. In order that the side walls 5 maybe of sufficient strength, they are preferably reinforced by parallel ribs 5, arranged vertically on the outside of the tank and in contact with the outer surface of the side walls. These ribs 5 are of equal number on the two sides and are arranged in pairs, the lower ends of each pair meeting in a vertical plane. The outer surfaces of the end walls are also provided with similar strengthening means consisting ofrvertical parallel fribs, the lower ends of which are secured to the end pairs of the reinforcing-ribs 5 of the side walls, as shown in Fig. 5.

The 'four walls of the tank are bound togetherby parallel horizontal beams 6, in mortised engagement with the ribs 5 of the side walls, and by rods 7, located adjacent to the end walls and in contact with the strengthening-ribs thereof. The beams 6 are of any desired number and are correspondingly located on the opposite sides of the tank. The rods 7..unite the beams 6 in pairs by passing through their ends. Each rod 7 is preferably provided with an integral head, which engages the first beam through which the rod has passed, while upon the other screwthreaded end ofeach rod is turned a nut, whereby the several pairs of beams 6 are securely united and adequate strength thereby given the tank. If desired, additional rods 7 may be passed transversely through the center of the tank, as shown in Fig. 1.

Across the center of the tank is located a partition 9, extending from top to bottom thereof and secured therein in any suitable manner. In the vertical center of this partition, extending upwardly from a point near the bottom thereof, is an opening 9, provided with a vertically-sliding gate 10. The size of the opening 9 maybe regulated by adjusting the position of the gate, which may be readily effected by means of a rod 10*, extending from the gate to which itis secured to a point above the tank. The rod 10 is suitably guided upon the partition 9 and isprovided gate may be raised or lowered. Guides 12 are secured to the partition 9, within which the gate is adapted to slide.

At approximately the center of the gate 10 is inserted a tubular coupling or nipple having a valve or cock 15 located therein. A long stem or rod 15 is operatively connected to the valve 15 and extends upwardly above the top of the tank, permitting ready adjustment of the opening through the nipple. A pipe or hose 13, preferably flexible and slightly longer than the distance from the gate to the end wall to admit of the free adjustment of the gate, extends from the nipple to a coupling 14:, located in the end wall, through which it passes. A cook 14 is provided in the coupling 14 on the outside of the tank.

A series of transverse partitions 8 divide the bottom of the tank into a number of compartments, each of which is provided with a discharge-pipe 16, passing through one of the side walls, at the bottom thereof. Each of the pipes 16 is provided with a cock 16, located outside of the tank, affording a means for regulating the discharge of the contents of the several compartments. The partitions 9" are preferably of a height substantially equal to the portion of the center partition 9 below the opening 9.

The end of the tank is provided with an overflow-spout B at the center and top, so arranged that its bottom is slightly below the top edge of the tank, so that the overflow may pass out in a thin sheet the width of the spout.

While I do not wish to limit myself to any particular dimensions nor to the specific details of construction, I have found in practice that the length of the tank may conveniently be from ten to twenty feet, a tank fourteen feet in length having a capacity to properly treat from fifty to sixty-five tons daily. The

height of the tank should preferably be ten or twelve feet, dependent upon the gravity of the pulp,coarse grades requiring the greater height in order to obtain the necessary pressure at the bottom of the tank. The opening 9 may preferably extend upwardly from a point about nine inches from the bottom of the partition and may be about eight inches wide by three feet high. The nipples 16, which are preferably about one and one-half inches in diameter, may be located from one to two feet apart, according to the number of sizes of the coarse material desired. The nipple 15 is preferably located about two feet above the bottom of the gate 10 and may be of the same diameter as the nipples 16.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The various valves 16, 15, and 1t are first adjusted by the operator, so as to increase or diminish the openings and passages, as desired, to effect the sizing and classification required. The pulp is brought to and discharged into the tank through the conduit A at one end and near the side thereof, so that the pulp will spread itself along for several feet at the surface of the water. In this way the coarser particles by their greater speciiic gravity pass rapidly down the side of the tank to the bottom thereof, while the lighter particles fly off from the side and are distributed through the body of water, being carried downward by the side draft through the gate opening in the center partition into the second half of the tank. The particles that by their greater weight fall below the top of the first cross-section 8 must pass out of the first pipe or nipple 16, while the next lighter particles, influenced by the side draft through the center gate, drop into the next compartment and pass out through the pipe-opening communicating therewith, and so on until at the center gate the finer particles that have not suflicient gravity to fall below the tops of the transverse sections 8 pass through the gate opening into the sec- "ond half of the tank, where they are also classified in the same manner as the heavier particles are classified in the first division of the tank, each size being conveyed from its compartment through the pipe 16 communicating therewith to its proper concentratingtable. In the second division all fine particles and slimes that could float to the surface, but which have been drawn down and through the center gate, are submerged below eight or nine feet of water, the draft at the sides, as in the first division, causing a downward tendency of the water, preventing the particles from rising again to the surface. All the floating or fine particles are thus drawn to the pipe-openings at the bottom of the tank,

leaving the upper portion of the water perfectly still and clear to a depth of about two or three feet at the end of the second division.. The draft through the pipe-openings 16 when properly regulated proportionate to the inflow through the conduit A permits the overflow-spout B to take off just the amount of clear water desired. In case the supply to the tank varies in quantity the overflow regulates the height of the water in the tank by automatically discharging more when it rises and less or none at all when it falls. By the converging of the sides of the tank to a very narrow space at the bottom the coarse material falling into this narrow space in the compartments between the partitions 8 occupies the space so completely as to act as a filter forcing the finer matter upward, so that the water passing out at the pipe-openings in the first division of the tank is comparatively clear. The relative distance between the pipe 15 and the opening below the gate is always the same, so that the flow into the pipe being about two feet above the current under the gate only very fine matter passes through this pipe. The very fine material thus extracted is taken out of the tank Without mixing with the classes in the second division through the hose l3 conveying it to the discharge-pipe 14, from which it is taken to the most delicate concentrating appliance.

My apparatus is very efiective and satisfactory, having many advantages over the usual method of hydraulic oversizing, as it requires no addition of water to the pulp as it is discharged from the mills or pulverizers, and when more water than is desired is present it is eliminated by the overflow without loss of values.

Although I have described more or less precise forms and details of construction I do not intend to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changesin form, the proportion of parts, and the substitution of equivalents, as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A sizer or classifier comprising a tank substantially V shaped in cross section, a central transverse partition dividing said tank into communicating portions, a supplyconduit for delivering pulp into one end of said tank, a series of compartments at the bottom of said tank between its supply-conduit and said central partition, an outlet leadin g from each of said compartments, said partition having an opening therethrough the bottom of which is in substantially the same horizontal plane as the tops of said compartments, and an overflow-spout leading from the top of the tank at the end opposite the supply-conduit, substantially as set forth.

2. In a sizer or classifier, the combination of a substantially V-shaped tank, a central transverse partition dividing said tank into communicating portions, a plurality of compartments at the bottom of each of said communicating portions, the communication between said portions being etfected through said central partition by an opening the bottom of which is in approximately the same horizontal plane as the tops of said compartments, outlets leading from said compartments, a supply-conduit for delivering pulp into said tank, and an overflow-spout leading from the top of the tank at the end opposite the said supply-conduit, substantially as described.

3. In a sizer or classifier, the combination of a tank, a central transverse partition dividing said tank into communicating portions, a plurality of compartments at the bottom of said portions, the communication between said portions being effected through said central partition by an opening the bottom of which is in the same horizontal plane as the tops of said compartments, and a vertically-sliding gate forming the top of said opening whereby its size may be regulated without varying the horizontal alinement of ments, substantially as described.

- 1. In a sizer or classifier, the combination of a tank, a central vertical partition diyiding said tank into communicating portions, a pulp-supplying conduit and an overflow-spout communicating with the tank at opposite sides of the partition, said partition having an opening therethrough, and a dischargepipe leading from the opening in said partition'to the exterior of the tank, substantially as set forth.

5. In a sizer or classifier, the combination of a tank divided into two parts by a central vertical partition, a pulp-supplying conduit communicating with the tank on one side of said partition and an overflow-spout leading from the tank at the other side of the partition, said partition having an opening therethrough near its bottom, and a second opening above the first, and a pipe leading fromsaid second opening to a point exterior to the tank, substantially as described.

6. In a sizer or classifier, the combination of a tank, a central partition therein, a pulpsupplying conduit, a spout for permitting an overflow from the end of the tank opposite said su pplying-conduit, said partition having an opening through it, a gate cooperating with said opening, a pipe leading from a second opening in said partition to the exterior of the tank, and a series of outlets leading from the bottom of said tank, substantially as described.

7. In a sizer or classifier the combination of a tank, a central partition therein, a pulp supplying conduit communicating therewith, a series of outlets at the bottom of said tank, said partition having an opening near it bottom and another near its center, and a pipe leading from said second opening to the exterior of the tank substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In a sizer or classifier, a tank having a series of compartments in the bottom thereof, a transverse partition extending across said tank having a passage therethrough above the tops of the several compartments, a gate for regulating said passage and a conduit extending from an opening in said gate to the exterior of the tank, substantially as described.

9. A sizer or classifier, comprising a tank substantially V-shaped in cross-section, a series of compartments formed at the bottom of the tank, outlets leading from said compartments, valves for regulating said outlets, a central partition separating said tank into two divisions, a pul p-supplying conduit communicating with one division, a discharge-spout for the overflow from the second division, said partition having an opening, the bottom of which is in horizontal alinement with the tops of said series of compartments, substantially as described.

10. A sizer or classifier comprising a tank IIO substantially V-shaped, a series of compartments at the bottom of said tank, outlets leading from said compartments, means for regulating the size of said outlets, a central partition extending across said tank, a pulp-supplying oonduit communicating with one end of said tank, a discharge-spout located at the other end thereof, said partition having an opening therethrough, a gate for regulating the size of said opening, and a discharge-pipe I0 connecting an opening in said gate with the exterior of the tank, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

JOSEPH O. DIMMICK.

\Vitnesses:

BLAKELEY GRAHAM, W. O. FIELD. 

